I know I shouldn't join any more challenges, but I couldn't resist this one. John at BookMineSet is hosting the 2nd Canadian Book Challenge, which looks like a lot of fun. I haven't read that much Canadian literature so I think I need to remedy that. John has several different ways to complete the challenge, but I'm going for the freestyle challenge simply because I think it will be easier for me to accomplish. I haven't had the greatest track record with challenges, but I'm getting better.I actually finished the Once Upon a Time II Challenge (yippee!), and I'm making pretty good progress on the others that I'm participating in. I'm reading my last selection for Maggie's Southern Reading Challenge (Light in August), and I'm on course with the Year of Reading Dangerously. I've read every one of them so far and plan to continue. This month's selection is The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier. I've currently read three of the nine books that I have planned for the Orbis Terrarum Challenge and two of the remaining ones overlap with other challenges. So, I think I'm in pretty good shape so far. O.K., Sharon if you're reading this, I know you're asking about the Soup's On Challenge that I signed up for. I really wanted to do it, and I continue to think about it. But I just haven't been able to find any books that I'm that interested in. Sorry, but at least I feel better now that I've confessed.
The challenge consists of reading 13 books (because there are 13 provinces in Canada) by or about Canadians between July 1, 2008, and July 1, 2009, and writing about them. My list is not set, but these are the books that I'm thinking about at this point. I'm definitely open to suggestions if you have a favorite Canadian author.
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (I read this one before I officially signed up for the challenge, but it was in the time frame -- so I'm counting it)
The Shipping News by Annie Proulx
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Humboldt's Gift by Saul Bellow
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Crow Lake by Mary Lawson
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence
The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields
Unless by Carol Shields
Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood
The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood
Possibly something by Alice Munro or Charles de Lint
8 comments:
I am a bit intimidated by challenges like this but your list has some of my favourite books and authors. Loved The Shipping News and I am a big fan of Bellow, Atwood, Carol Shields. My sister-in-law (who is Canadian) loves Margaret Laurence so I should really try and read her as well. Happy reading!
Thanks, Pete. It sounds like I chose some good books for the challenge. I haven't read anything by Shields or Laurence, so I'm excited to try these 'new to me' authors.
Ooh you've got some of my favorites on your list! I am so tempted to sign up but then I realize I'm not doing all that well with my challenges. sigh.
Anyway, yay, you for doing so well with yours and have fun with this one!
iliana, thanks. I don't know how well I'm doing, but I'm having fun trying.
If I weren't in such a backlog with my reading, I would sign up for this challenge, too! So many Canadian authors I want to read. I recently read Crow Lake from your list and really liked it. I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on it.
Sharon, I know what you mean about the backlog of reading. I really shouldn't sign up, but what can I say? I've heard a lot of good things about Crow Lake. I'm looking forward to it.
Good for you w/ the Reading Dangerously challenge! I've been awful at that one, lol.
eva, thanks. I don't know why but it's easier for me if I know which book I should read each month instead of having a whole list of books and me choosing when to read them. That sounds a little crazy, huh? Oh well.
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